Game table top



`lune 15, 1943. M. GREITZER 2,322,089

GAME TABLE TOP Filed June 27, 1941 Patented June l5, 1943 ED STTES oFFlcE 4 Claims.

My invention relates generally to tables and more particularly to a top for tables especially designed for playing card games and the principal object of my invention is, to provide a relatively simple, practical, and inexpensive table top having its upper surface provided with a at, smooth, central area surrounded by marginal `rails in which are formed recesses for theconthe smooth, ilat, central area, and which serves as a space on which certain card games are played, is formed on the upper surface of a panel which normally closes the storage compartment within the table top and said panel being readily removable from its position within the marginal rails of the table top in order to give access to the storage compartment.

A further object of my invention is, to provide atable top with a plurality of marginal rails, each having at one end a recess for the reception of an ash tray or the like, there being an aperture formed in the other end portion of the rail for the accommodation of a drinking glass Aand the face of the rail between said recess and aperture being provided with a plurality of grooved or channeled pockets for the reception of chips and markers used in various card games.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig, 1 is a top plan view of a card table top constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the table top.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section taken approximately on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, I0 designates aprons or side walls that are assembled and connected to form a substantially rectangular structure, and secured in any suitable manner to the lower edges of these aprons is a bottom panel II. Thus the aprons IG and panel II combine to form ashallow receptacle that functions as a storage space for small objects or articles and'particularly game accessories.

The inner surfaces of the aprons I0 and the upper surface of panel II are covered with a layer I2, preferably of fabric such as billiard cloth, or said covering may take the form of a sheet of felt, thin fiber board, oilcloth, or Pantasote, Suitably secured to the upper edges of the aprons I@ and projecting a short distance inwardly are horizontally disposed rails I3, .thus providing a continuous support for the members forming the marginal portion of the table top.

The members i4 that form 'the sides of the marginal portion of the table top are in the form of rails, preferably composed of Bakelite or suitable plastic material, and formed in the upper surface of the central portion of each of these rails is a plurality of longitudinally disposed grooves or channels I5 that are adapted 'to receive and hold chips or markers used in playing certain games.

Formed in the upper surface of each rail I4 preferably at the left hand end thereof, is a recess IB that is adapted to receive a removable ash tray, and formed in the other end of each rail is an opening Il of such size as to receive a drinking glass.

Each rail I4 is provided along its outer edge with a depending flange I8 which overlies the corresponding edge of the underlying rail I3 and all of the marginal rails I4 are secured to the supporting rails I3 by means of screws I9 that pass upwardly through said rails I3 into lugs 20 that are formed on the under sides of the rails I4.

At the corners of the table top between the ends of the side rails I4 are short trapezoidal rails 2I preferably formed of Bakelite or suitable plastics, and formed in the top of each of these corner rails is a rectangular recess 22 of such size and shape as to receive a pack of playing cards. These corner rails are anchored to the underlying rails I3 by means of screws 23 that enter lugs 24 formed on the under sides of the corner rails.

Formed in the wall at the outer end of the recess 22 is a notch 25 that enables the thumb or finger to engage the end of the pack of cards occupying recess 22 and formed in the wall at the inner end of recess 22 is a similar notch 26.

The main body portion of the table top or that portion upon which games are played comprises a substantially rectangular member having a lower panel 21, preferably formed of plywood, and secured thereto is an overlying panel 28 which may be formed from soft or semi-solid material such as fiber board, fibrous composition, or sponge rubber. Overlying the upper surface of the panel 28 and extending downwardly over the edges of both panels is a layer 29 of fabric such as billiard cloth or soft, flexible material, such as felt, Pantasote, or the like.

The table top member comprising the parts 21, 28, and 29 is removably positioned within the marginal portion of the table top comprising the rails I d and 2I and when positioned within said marginal portion, the edges of the removable portion of the table top rest upon the inner edges of the panel I3. Thus the corners of the removable portion of the table top are exposed by the notches 26 formed in the walls at the inner ends of the recesses 22 in the corner rails 2|, and thus the corners of the removable member may be readily engaged by the thumb and fingers when it is desired to remove said member from its position between the marginal rails and thereby give access to the storage chamber surrounded by the aprons IU.

Formed in each rail I3 immediately below and coinciding with the opening IT in the overlying rail I4 is an opening 30 for the reception of a drinking glass and in order to support the latter when the same is positioned in the coinciding openings I1 and 3U, a bracket 3| projects from the adjacent apron I inwardly to a point below the centers of said openings (see Fig. 3).

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a game table top that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended, and which table top is provided with a readily removable portion that serves as a cover for a storage compartment, the latter being adapted to receive game playing accessories or other small objects and articles.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved game table top, may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a game table top, a hollow box-like structure, a series of marginal rails positioned on top of said structure adjacent its edges, a table top member removably positioned within the area surrounded by said marginal rails, and the inner I ends of certain of said marginal rails being notched so as to give access to the edges of said table top member.

2. In a game table top, a plurality of side wall aprons, a bottom secured to the lower portions of said aprons, a plurality of narrow rails secured on top of said aprons and projecting inwardly therefrom, a removable table top having its edges resting on the inner edges of said narrow rails, a second set of rails secured on top of said first mentioned narrow rails and surroundsaid table top the upper surfaces of said second set of rails being fiat and occupying the same horizontal plane with the upper surface of the table top, there being recesses formed in the top surfaces of said second set of rails for the reception of game accessories and flanges depending from the outer faces of said second set of rails, which flanges overlie the outer faces of said narrow rails.

3. In a game table top, a plurality of side wall aprons, a bottom secured to the lower portions of said aprons, a plurality of narrow rails secured on top of said aprons and projecting inwardly therefrom, a removable table top having its edges resting on the inner edges of said narrow rails, a second set of rails secured on top of said first mentioned narrow rails at the sides of said table top, the upper surfaces of which second set of rails being flat and occupying the same horizontal plane with the upper surface of the table top, there being recesses formed in the top surfaces of said second set of rails for the reception of game accessories, blocks secured to the narrow rails between the ends of said second set of rails at the corners of the table, there being recesses formed in the upper surfaces of said blocks for the reception of game accessories, and said blocks being provided at the inner ends of the recesses therein with notches for giving access to the edges of said table top.

4. In a game table top, a supporting frame, a. rectangular table top removably positioned on top of said frame, rails secured on said frame at the sides of said table top, the upper faces of which rails occupy the same horizontal plane with the upper surface of the table top and are provided with recesses for the reception of game accessories, corner blocks secured to said frame between the ends of the rails, which corner blocks are provided in their upper faces with recesses for the reception of game accessories and said blocks, to the rear of said recesses, being provided with notches giving access to the corner portions of said table top.

MEYER GREITZER. 

